Wordless Wednesday

Busy week ahead....

Looks like I won't get much crafting done this week since my "real" job will be interfering too much! Plus, I've had to give a lot of extra TLC to our sick bulldog, and I'm planning a trip to Canton with my mom this weekend. We'll be walking the miles of vendors in search of crafty inspiration and goodies to bring home! This will be my first trip, and I'm excited to check it out. In the meantime, I've had fun looking at their website, http://www.firstmondaycanton.com/.

When I get back I'll be making plans for my first Home Show, in conjunction with Chicky Girls Hair Bows. She's another Etsy seller who I found using the Shop Local function on Etsy when I wanted some unique hair bows as a gift for some special little girls. Hopefully we'll be able to get the word out locally about our handmade products.

Oh, and I've also got to work on a special craft for my mom for Mother's Day! I can't say what it is yet, but I'll be sure and post about it once I give it to her. What are some of your unique handmade ideas for Mother's Day gifts?

More tins....

I've finished a couple more handpainted antique tins. I had another custom order for a personalized tin and I also made a new one to sell in my Etsy shop. Here they are:

The blue one is for a baby shower gift. The mommy-to-be will have a very unique personalized gift for her new son! A friend of mine gave me the idea for the brown one, I think it would work well hanging either on a front door or a wall in your home.

Also, today is Etsy Day! Basically, sellers on Etsy have united to try to spread the word about http://www.etsy.com/ through a one day marketing blitz. If you haven't visited http://www.etsy.com/, be sure and check it out today and don't forget to stop by my shop too!

Happy Earth Day!

I googled "simple ways to go green", and found several tips. Here's a list of the ones I personally do, and I find they don't really take that much extra effort on my part:

1. Use rechargeable batteries.

2. Adjust freezer & refrigerator temps (keep the fridge at 37° F. and the freezer at 0° F).

3. Consider using compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They cost a bit more than regular bulbs, but you'll lower your electric bill and pay less in the long run.

6. Recycle! Your trash is someone else's treasure! Check out http://www.freecycle.org/ and http://www.earth911.org/.

7. Buy a laptop (they use less energy than desktops).

8. Get off the junkmail list (Register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (dmaconsumers.org) and you'll see a significant reduction in mail after three months).

9. Double up on printing. Configure your printer so it prints on both sides of the paper or use the other side of paper you would otherwise be recycling.

10. Tote your own grocery bag. Most places like Dollar Tree or Walmart sell re-useable grocery bags for $1 or less.

11. Switch to organic products (I try to buy at least organic fruits & veggies).

12. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible.

13. Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

14. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

15. Use a reusable water bottle.

16. Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

17. Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

18. Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

19. Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

20. Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes.

Wow, I can't believe how long that list got, several of them I didn't even realize I was doing! And there are so many other things I could be doing, like making my own cleaning products and using a low-flow showerhead.

Find more great ways to go green here, here, and here.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Just listed in my Etsy shop:

Click on the photo for more pictures!

Pink Chandelier DIY

Many thanks to Spearmint Baby for posting about my chandelier makeover on her blog. Visit Spearmint Baby for beautiful inspiration and products for your baby. Here's the before and after of the chandelier I transformed for my best friend's little girl's room:

TGIF: A rainy weekend ahead...

This week has really flown by, and I've only gotten a little bit of crafting done. I just finished a special order tin that turned out really cute. The lady's name was Happy, and that got me thinking of some new phrases to write on the tins. Luckily I got several tins prepped and painted yesterday so I'll have plenty of time to create during the rainy days ahead. I'll be sure and post pics when I'm done.

For now, I'll leave you with a few website recommendations. If you're looking for a craft to do this weekend, these sites are great sources of inspiration:

http://www.oneprettything.com/ ~ This is the mecca for DIY fanatics! Learn how to make everything from stuffed animals to scarfs to curtains!

http://daisycraft.com/ ~ Check out the Craft Tips section for free tutorials!

http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/ ~ This is a great site that promotes women & their creative ideas. Right now she's featuring some great home decor tutorials & tips.

Wordless Wednesday

Featured Crafter

Today I'm featuring another crafter who uses a medium I am not all that familar with. Raina's primary medium is polymer clay, but she uses a bevy of supplies (including some great vintage materials) to create her fascinating pieces. She is definitely a crafter of many talents! Her items can be seen in her Etsy shop, Rhubarb Incident. Her prices are very reasonable, and she has a wide variety of items, so you're sure to find the perfect gift for yourself or even the pickiest person on your gift list! Here's a few of my favorites:

This plaque would be fabulous hanging in a retro-inspired kitchen:

Her jewelry is so beautiful and unique, it's hard to pick out a favorite piece. Since my favorite color is purple, I really love this clay pendant:

And you know my fleur de lis-loving self just can't resist these beautiful earrings (plus there's a matching pendant!):

Since Raina loves to dabble in so many different types of crafts, who knows what we'll see next! Thanks for the inspiration, Raina!

Happy Easter!

I know I'm a little late on this, but here's my fun Easter feather wreath I made a couple years ago:

I took a couple feather boas that I had laying around (probably left over from someone's bachelorette party in NOLA), wrapped them around a grapevine wreath, added a glitter egg garland and a couple bunny picks and voila! Instant Easter cuteness in less than 10 minutes!

This would be a great idea for a Mardi Gras wreath, or to use as a New Baby or Birthday Party wreath too!

Featured Crafter

Since I don't have much crafting of my own to blog about right now, I thought I would feature some other crafty ladies who inspire me. I have no patience when it comes to sewing, and only do it if absolutely neccessary (my husband hems his own pants!), so I am really impressed by those who can do it so well. I found Mary on a message board that I frequent, and she has just recently begun to teach herself how to sew. Now that is commitment! Her blog, Life on 19th, chronicles some of her sewing adventures. She gets really creative with her fabric choices. For instance, she made these grocery totes using an outdoor table cloth!

Her other thrify fabric choices include cloth napkins, sheets and pillowcases, which all give a unique retro/vintage flair to her projects. So next time you are perusing the fabric store looking for inspiration, don't forget about visiting your local Goodwill and other thrift stores as well.

I also love the fabric she used for this little box bag, what a great travel accessory:

For all you coffee addicts, she also makes these great coffee cozies to protect your hands from those piping hot to-go cups:

These items and many more (plus some yummy recipes) can be found on her blog and her Etsy store. Thanks for the inspiration Mary, I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

Back to Reality

Well, I'm back home after a quick beach vacation to celebrate our 5th anniversary. The beach was wonderful, and now it's back to reality (and a sick bulldog). Before I left, I finished my first large frame using some new ribbon and a fabulous rhinestone belt buckle from a vintage dress:

The pictures don't do this frame justice, it really is gorgeous. I plan on personalizing the bottom of the frame with a name or phrase if it sells on Etsy and the customer wants it that way. If it doesn't sell it will have a prominent place in my living room!

Next on my crafting list is to get the big pile of tins I received last week prepped and sanded and ready to be painted and embellished. In the meantime, I'll be featuring some fellow crafters on my blog for inspiration, hope you enjoy!